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Letter: George Washington to Thomas Johnson, April 20, 1788

Page 1

As well from report, as from the ideas expressed in your letter to me in December last, I am led to conclude that you are disposed (circumstanced as our public affairs are at present) to ratify the Constitution on which has been submitted by the general Convention to the People; and under this impression, I take the liberty of expressing a single sentiment on the occasion.

It is, that an adjournment, (if attempted), of your Convention to a later period than the decision of the question in this State, will be tantamount to the rejection of the Constitution. I have good ground for this opinion, and am told it is the blow which the leading characters of the opposition in these two States [have aimed against it, if] it shall be found that a direct attack is not likely to succeed in yours. If this be true, it cannot be too much deprecated, and guarded against.

The postponement in New-Hampshire, altho' [sic] made without any reference to the Convention of this State, and altogether from the local circumstances of its own, is ascribed by the opposition here to complaisance towards Virginia; and great use is made of it. An event similar to this in Maryland, would have the wor[st] tendency imaginable; for indecision there wd. [would] have considerable influence upon South Carolina, the only other State which is to precede Virginia, and submits the question almost wholly to the determination of the latter. The pride of the State is already touched upon this string, and it will be strained much higher if there is an opening for it.

The sentiments of Kentucky are not yet known here. Independent of these, the parties with

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This item is owned by the C. Burr Artz Trust. Permission to publish or reproduce this item is required and must be obtained from the Maryland Room, C. Burr Artz Library, Frederick County Public Libraries. Please call 301-694-1368 for more information.

Transcript

Mount Vernon, April 20th, 1788.

Dear Sir,

As well from report, as from the ideas expressed in your letter to me in December last, I am led to conclude that you are disposed (circumstanced as our public affairs are at present) to ratify the Constitution on which has been submitted by the general Convention to the People; and under this impression, I take the liberty of expressing a single sentiment on the occasion.

It is, that an adjournment, (if attempted), of your Convention to a later period than the decision of the question in this State, will be tantamount to the rejection of the Constitution. I have good ground for this opinion, and am told it is the blow which the leading characters of the opposition in these two States [have aimed against it, if] it shall be found that a direct attack is not likely to succeed in yours. If this be true, it cannot be too much deprecated, and guarded against.

The postponement in New-Hampshire, altho' [sic] made without any reference to the Convention of this State, and altogether from the local circumstances of its own, is ascribed by the opposition here to complaisance towards Virginia; and great use is made of it. An event similar to this in Maryland, would have the wor[st] tendency imaginable; for indecision there wd. [would] have considerable influence upon South Carolina, the only other State which is to precede Virginia, and submits the question almost wholly to the determination of the latter. The pride of the State is already touched upon this string, and it will be strained much higher if there is an opening for it.

The sentiments of Kentucky are not yet known here. Independent of these, the parties with